5 impactful climate actions Montanans can take right now
1. Submit Comments regarding Keystone XL Water-Crossing Permits
Bold Nebraska provides an excellent overview for the following commenting opportunities.
Important Dates
October 13 - Written comments due to the Army Corps of Engineers. Sierra Club provided some good talking points from the call-in public comment events that may be helpful in drafting your comments. Also see Bold Nebraska link above.
November 16 - Montana State and Montana DEQ Public Hearing, 4 - 8 p.m. You must register to comment on November 16th! Register at https://mtkeystonexlmeeting.eventbrite.com or call Moira Davin, Public Relations Specialist, at: 406-461-2503.
November 30 - Written comments due to the MT DEQ
2. Submit Comments regarding NorthWestern’s application for Pre-approval of an Additional Ownership Share in Colstrip Unit 4 (Docket No. 2019.12.101.)
Submit public “in-person” or written comments on NorthWestern’s Application for pre-approval of an additional ownership share of Colstrip Unit 4.
Talking Points
Ask them to DENY the pre-approval. We need affordable, reliable renewables + storage. Ask them to protect our pocketbooks and our climate by denying pre-approval. MEIC provides excellent background and talking points on their site.
Sign up to submit public “in-person” comments
The Montana Public Service Commission (PSC) public listening sessions for Docket No. 2019.12.101. will take place on October 13, 20, and 27, each night from 4:00 to 8:00 PM, or earlier if public comment has concluded for the evening. Details on how to provide public comment during the “in-person” listening sessions, provided by the PSC staff, are the following:
a. Sign up on your own by emailing PSChelp@mt.gov or call the Commission’s toll-free number at 800-646-6150 and leave a message. Include your name and your phone number or email address in your message. Make sure to contact the Commission by 12:00 p.m. the day before the listening session you would like to attend (October 12, 19, or 26, 2020), so that a Commission representative time to provide you instructions for participating in a listening session. (Note: We have an inquiry into the PSC about Oct. 12 since it is considered a national holiday.)
b. Sign up through Montana Sierra Club.
How to submit Written Comments
Anyone unable to attend the public listening sessions may submit written comments to the Commission. Written comments are not publicly available on the Commission’s website, but are reviewed by both Commission staff and Commissioners.
Written comments may be submitted via email to psc_utilitycomment@mt.gov.
3. Vote in the Public Service Commission Election
Learn more about this issue and the candidates by downloading our PSC-election information piece, and learn more at livableclimate.org/vote-psc-election.
4. Missoula - Vote FOR Mountain Line’s mill levy increase on the ballot
Here’s our Director’s letter to the editor:
A few days each week, our bus line carries my daughter and I to school, and then I run home to work. While it’s optional for us, these trips help reduce our carbon emissions, and make sure I prioritize self-care a few days a week. For many others however, taking the bus isn’t a choice but an every-day economic necessity, or an essential part of their mobility. The Mountain Line mill levy increase will invest in the popular zero-fare program, and provide service for the first time on Sundays--a work day for many Missoulians.
Whether or not you use the bus, you benefit from it. More people on the bus reduces cars on the road, which means less traffic congestion and parking demand. Furthermore, Mountain Line’s development is a critical part of our community’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas pollution in our rapidly warming world. Emissions matter and impact how much our planet will warm.
This affordable, shared investment will make our community more equitable and less polluted now, and help reduce the coming climate impacts on all of our families. I urge everyone to vote FOR the Mountain Line mill levy on your ballot this fall.
More information and FAQs here: www.friendsofmountainline.org
4. Ask your friends and family to vote for strong climate action
Nearly everything you care about is threatened by the climate crisis: your family’s future, your kids’ happiness and future security, food supplies, leisure time, hunting, fishing, gathering wild foods, hiking, outdoors sports, winter, smoke-free summers, and the list goes on. The climate is warming; humans are causing it; it’s already impacting Montana, but we can take action and make a difference. Make this your mantra, and straight up ask everyone you know (regardless of party) to vote for strong climate action.